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While you cannot avoid probate entirely, you can do some things that will help you keep your affairs as smooth as possible. Whether you are married or single, there are ways an estate attorney can help to avoid probate and keep your assets safe. Listed below are some of them. You may want to take some of these steps now. After all, you are only one death away from losing everything you have worked so hard for. After all, who better to distribute your assets than the people you love?
The most obvious way to avoid probate is to create a living trust. This is far less formal than drafting a will, and you can make it fit your needs. Probate proceedings are public record and anyone can search for information about your estate. It's best to create a living trust instead of a will to protect your privacy. The trust can be customized to your needs, and can avoid probate fees.
There are also other ways to avoid probate. For example, you can name beneficiaries to receive the assets. Choosing beneficiaries is a less costly option, but make sure to set them up with a specific plan. If you have no specific beneficiary, naming them is an excellent way to avoid the process. Just remember that your beneficiaries should have your best interest at heart. You do not want to spend all of your assets going through probate.
The second way to avoid probate is to leave a will. While probate is necessary for certain types of wills, it is not required in all circumstances. If the deed to your property is in your name alone, it will pass through the probate process. However, there are other ways to avoid probate in Washington state. For example, if you leave a spouse with money, you can leave the money to your spouse.
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